Spring



-E. BARNES.

SPRlNG. APPLlcATloN men 11213.19. 1921.

1,4191605, Patentdune 6, 1922.

' tion illustrated the EDWIN BARNES, on snnrrmnn. ENGLAND.

. SPRING.

Application filed February 19, 1921.

To all l11i/0m It may conce/rm.:

Be it known that l` Enwix Baumes a .subject oi the King ot' England. residing at Sheffield. in E new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Springs, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to springs which are normally bentv when unilexed` especially those bent in a curve` its object being to provide an improved method and means ior protecting the spring from damage or fracture by the application of a straightening torce exerted to excess.

According to the present invention the spring is protected by the employment oiE a relatively rotatable sheath arranged between stops*adjacent to each end ot' the bend and comprising a number ot' perforated bead like bodies which are small in. relation to the bent or Icurved part ot the spring. Such bead likebodies may extend along the whole length of spring to be protected. or they may be divided into groups or units separated by springs which are preferably heli cal coils, thc groups of heads and springs being preferably all ot' the same .length respectively.

The method and means ot' bent or curved spring ent invention may be cumstances` but the present invention is particularly applicable to the protection oi a spectacle hook side or like ear spring. such as' the spring employed to anchor one end oi: the safety chain oi' a pair ol eyeglasses to the ear of the wearer.

The accompanying drawing is an elevation 'ot a spectacle hook side to which the present invention is applied.

ln carrying out the present invention the. bent or curved part `ot' the spring l is euclosed in a relatively rotatable sheath which is flexible as a whole in the directions at right angles to its length but is substantially rigid in transverse section. In the construcsheath is formed by groups of bead-like bodies 6 which are threaded on to the spring bet-Ween a collar 4 adjacent to or beyond one end of the bend and a bead 5 at the other end. Each group of bead-like bodies is separated from the next by a 'helical spring 2, the collar 4 and head 5 on the spring l thus act as thrustsurfaces or abutments against which the ends of the series of beads 6 may rotate and protecting a according to the pres-- Specification of Letters Patent.

ngland. have invented certain' applied in man v cir- Paten-ted June `Serial No. 446,397.

are` pressed by the springs 2. The collar el.

spring l.

Each group of bead like bodies 6 and each spring 2 is preferably of substan samel length as illustrated. I

The sheath extends along the wholeof the bent or curved part of the spring land may ii desired extend also along the whole ofthe straight part of the spring. The extent of the spring covered by the sheath is governed by the distance apart at which the straightening force on the spring is likely to be applied, the intention being that both or all points at which the straightening force is applied shall he on the sheath. 'lhe sheath being flexible as a -whole in directionsr at right angles to its length will not .prevent the spring from performing its normalefunetions. but when the result of applying a straightening force approaches the limits of safety the sheath being substantially rigid .in i Y' transverse. section, will allow the spring to twist or turn inside it thus converting the straightening force into a torque, and preventing the spring from being damaged or fractured. y

lhe bodies (i themselves are small in relation to the curvc of the spring land their contacting sides are preferably rounded or bevelled in order to attain the desired-dexibility in directions at right anglesto the length ot the sheath as a Whole. If desired the bead like bodies 6 may be in' contact with one another throughout the whole length of the extent of. the sheath instead of being separated into groups or units provided some iorm ot' spring' is furnished to hold the bodies in contact with one another. i

Although the invention is illustrated as applied to a spring wdiieh is circular in ,cross`A the spring threaded on the bend thereof.-

stops on the spiing disposed with the bend e, ieee.

ially lthe the ael from damage diie to a between them and a spring encircling the bend between the stops and maintaining a series of contacts between stops, beads and spring.

2. Means for protecting a bent spring from damage due toa straightening force Comprising the combination with the bent spring, of a plurality of perforated beadlike bodies small in relation to the bend of the spring threaded on the bend thereof, stops on the spring disposed with the bend between them and a helical spring encircling the bend between the stops dividing the bead-like bodies into groups and maintain ing a series of contactsl between stops, beads and spring.

3. Means for protecting a bent spring straightening force comprising the combination with thev bent spring, of a plurality of perforated beadlike bodies small in relation to the bend of the spring threaded on the bend thereof,` stops on the spring disposed with vthe bend between them and a number of helical springs encircling the bend between the stops dividing the bead-like bodies into groups and maintaining a-seriesfof contacts between stops, beads and springs,.each group of beads and each springbeing of substantially the saine length. i

`4. The combination with a spectacle hook side or like springs of means for protectingr the hook portion thereof from damage due to a straightening force comprising the com; bination with the hook portion, of a plurality of perforated bead-like bodies small in re- In testimony whereof he affixes his sig- .n ature.

lEDWIN BARNES.

litnesses Rico K. Evans, ARTHUR H. (lnnicnwooo.

bead-like bodies into 

